The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-07-30

AT three minutes to eight O'Clock on
morning Thomas Ball, captain
of the Youngstown mine, fell to the bot
tom OF fifty foot shaft, from the second
to the third level, striking on his head
and sustaining injuries from which he
died nj seven minutes TO three on the
same day. The circumstances attending
this dreadful accident TO one OF our most
beloved and respected citizens are as fol-
lows: Mr.. Ball had just commenced
work on the third level OF the mine and
was experimenting the putting IN OF a
frame TO attach the upright-cage timbers
TO, at the collar Of the shaft This work
necessitated the removal of some ground
TO allow the timbers 10 GO into place, 10
DO WHICH IT WAS NECESSARY
TO suspend staging some two or three
Ieet below the floor OF the second level.
On one side OF the shaft a rope was last
ened to some OF the shaft timber and ON
the other side the rope was tied To the
rail OF tram track which projected
about foot over the collar OF the shaft
and TO the lower end of the ropes thus
fastened pole was tied, ON which two
men were standing engaged in the work
above mentioned. Capt. Ball called one
OF the men up and sent him ON an errand
TO another part Of the mine and while he
was gone the captain stepped down on
the pole staging ON the end attached to
the rail, and after examining the work
began testing the strength Of the support,
ny THROWING His WEIGHT
on il. He had not repeated the expert
ment more than once or twice, when the
rope slipped off Of the rail and he was
TO the bottom OF the shaft
As the pole gave way the man on the
other end grasped the timber work above
with one hand and with the other caught
hold OF Mr.. Balls clothing but could not
retain the hold and one Of the most noble
hearted men that ever lived went To his
death on the jagged, cold, remorseless
rocks below. A man was sent to the sur
face 20 summon a doctor and others
went below 10 where the captain lay, I'M
conscious and bleeding. He WAS inn
taken 10 the surface by his
miners and conveyed to his home
AT THE LOCATION,
where he was met 10y loving vile, who
stood the severe blow with remarkable
.,,J ,,.,...a until .In x.as. t.11 ba,.
husband could not live, when she broke
down completely, kind and loving friends
doing all in their power To cheer the poor
woman in the hour Of her q ieatest sor-
row. IN examination OF the injuries by
the surgeons showed that his death was
cnuecd 10y conclusion of the brain. IL
was found that he sustained scalp
wound which extended from the left side
Of the forehead in "A jagged course To the
back OF the head below and behind the
left ear, slight cut over the right eye,
several small bruises ON the back and the
bone laid bare on one knuckle;
THE SKULL
was not fractured. Immediately after
the accident his brother, Edward Ball,
captain OF this Florence mine, was sum
moned and came ON the noon train,
being with his brother from that time
until the. soul Of the sufferer passed TO
the unknown beyond. The captain
groaned almost incessently from the time
Of the fall to his death, apparently s6f-
iering great pain, though not uttering a.
word. Captain Ball was thirty-one years
OF age the day he died, and his wife had
arranged for n party in the evening, the
guests having been invited and every
thing made ready for splendid time.
Instead oienjoying an evening with friends
in socialintercourse Mrs. Ball
EXPERIENCED HER GREATEST SORROW.
How strange and uncertain IN live
Thos. Ball was born in Devonshire, Eng
land, July %, 1856, being the second
child In a family of eleven children and
the eldest OF nine brothers. Came 20
America with his parents about twenty
five years ago and settled In the mining
regions OF New Jersey at which place his
parents are now living. After obtaininea
good common school education he began
TO work In the mines and followed that
work on 20 his death. In 1876 he came
north and located at Republic, this state,
where he obtained work in the Republic
mine, where by close application 30 his